Lifestyle Elevation Media Foundation
Our Mission & Founder
Rooted in purpose. Growing opportunity across generations.
Our Mission
Our Mission: Empowering Generations Through Technology, Creativity & Workforce Development
Lifestyle Elevation Media Foundation (LEMF) empowers teenagers, young adults, senior citizens, creatives, and underserved communities through intergenerational education, technology, media, and workforce development. We believe access to digital knowledge, creative training, and economic opportunity is essential for every generation to learn, contribute, and thrive together.
Intergenerational Learning & Creative Collaboration
Our cohort model brings generations together as a collective team, connecting seasoned professionals with emerging creatives. Participants share knowledge, develop confidence, strengthen fundamentals, and build practical skills for today’s rapidly evolving technology and AI-driven economy.
Our Mission in Action
- Digital & AI Literacy: From essential computer skills to artificial intelligence, website development, digital platforms, and emerging technology, we prepare participants to confidently navigate the future.
- Media & Creative Training: We develop writers, aspiring journalists, editorial influencers, photographers, videographers, podcasters, website creators, storytellers, and social-impact media professionals.
- Workforce Development: Training must lead to opportunity. We connect education with career readiness, entrepreneurship, employment, contracting, mentorship, and pathways into creative and technology industries.
Our vision is an inclusive ecosystem where generations teach one another, creativity meets technology, fundamentals remain strong, and people gain skills that lead to meaningful work, economic mobility, leadership, and lasting community impact together.
Our Founder
Founder | Lela C. Thompson
Chief Media & Philanthropy Officer
Executive Creative Publisher
Visionary Leadership & Media Innovation
Lela C. Thompson is Founder and Executive Director of Lifestyle Elevation Media Foundation (LEMF), advancing digital equity, creative entrepreneurship, and economic opportunity. A FIDM graduate, publisher, communications strategist, and social-impact leader, she connects creativity, business, technology, and community empowerment.
Building Independent Media
Since 2009, Lela has developed five digital publications, elevating thousands of voices through journalism, entertainment, fashion, business, technology, and cultural storytelling.
Leadership, Advocacy & Community Impact
Her accomplishments include:
- Super Bowl & Small Business Advocacy: Collaborated with the City of Inglewood’s mayor to develop a small-business promotional event aligned with Playa Vista during the year SoFi Stadium hosted its first Super Bowl, helping businesses strengthen visibility and revenue opportunities.
- Santa Monica Business Revitalization: Created post-pandemic initiatives supporting small businesses through brand promotion, community engagement, and renewed economic opportunities.
- Earth Day Awareness: Organized an Earth Day event at Soho House, connecting journalists, entrepreneurs, and small-business brands through environmental awareness and advocacy.
- LA28 Olympic Inclusion: Champions equitable participation for independent publishers in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games, advocating for meaningful media access and storytelling opportunities.
- Senate District 28 Advocacy: Collaborates with Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas and her leadership team to advance independent media, technology, creative entrepreneurship, and economic inclusion.
- Nonprofit & Civic Leadership: Supported 40+ nonprofit organizations and completed the BizFed Advocacy Academy in June 2026.
A Vision for Future Generations
Lela champions intergenerational education, AI literacy, journalism, and creative arts training. Through LEMF, she envisions Media Tech Hubs connecting youth, seniors, and creative professionals with mentorship, technology, funding, and sustainable career pathways.
Her mission is to ensure diverse voices are recognized, empowered, and positioned to thrive.